The ninth instalment in Ace's attractively priced resuscitation and expansion of B.B. King's Crown albums, courtesy of series supervisor John Broven, showcases King's fifth LP for the budget label, originally issued in early 1960. It finds B.B. in full stride and reflects an eclecticism that displayed the breadth of B.B.'s music and talents, and represented attempts to cope with changing trends. Accordingly, the album presents the original mixture of mostly later RPM and early Kent singles anchored by the unified album version of the classic two-part single 'Sweet Sixteen' which ranks among B.B.'s most definitive and impassioned moments. It ranges through some of the signature 50s hits which were staples on ghetto jukeboxes and record players (five of the tracks charted either R&B or Pop); a couple of flip sides; and a handful of ballads and rock'n'roll flirtations, enhanced with eight mostly obscure bonus tracks.

The original LP reached back to 1952 for a Memphis alternate take of 'Some Day Somewhere' (B.B.'s rendition of Lowell Fulson's 'Midnight Showers Of Rain', also covered in Memphis by Willie Nix). But the heart of the album presented B.B. in a more fully-developed mode, at his peak of vocal range and suppleness and closer to the crystallisation of a guitar style that rapidly became established as the model for contemporary blues, framed by the nuanced, stylish arrangements of Maxwell Davis and occasionally topped off with his tenor sax solos. Plas Johnson, the New Orleans transplant who supplanted Davis as the first call R & B tenor in Los Angeles as blues was elbowed out by rock'n'roll, makes a rousing contribution similar to his solo on T-Bone Walker's 'Two Bones And A Pick' on the RPM single and bonus track 'Bim Bam'. It was an unabashed rock'n'roll outing, with lyric references to hits of the day, which B.B. disparages. Controversy almost drips from the grooves despite Plas' efforts, although the jive dancers will almost certainly lap it up.

One of B.B.'s greatest and favourite foils, pianist Lloyd Glenn, also graces several tracks, perhaps most notably on the alternate take of 'Down Now' which was in part B.B.'s lament about his Internal Revenue Service problems. The 1955 session-mate ballads 'Sneakin' Around' and 'I Was Blind' (with a vocal chorus by some Kings Men" who couldn't have got much further from 'Louie Louie') remind us how early a softer side of B.B. was evident. On more solid blues ground, it's worth noting Otis Rush's adaptation of 'Be Careful Of A Fool' into his version of 'Mean Old World' and B.B.'s sanitisation of Dr Clayton's song of homicidal intent, 'Cheating And Lying Blues', into 'Quit My Baby'.

Delivery & Returns

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce.
You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com
ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com
) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Bus Stop Mail Order Ltd, 42-50 Steele Road, London, NW10 7AS. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Bus Stop Mail Order Ltd, 42-50 Steele Road, London, NW10 7AS. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.